Emerging Artists to Discover at Elements Music & Arts Festival 2025

Elements Music & Arts Festival returns to Long Pond, Pa., this August with another stacked lineup that perfectly balances chart-topping headliners with the underground’s most promising talent.

Set against the backdrop of the Pocono Mountains, the three-day camping experience is a wonderland of art installations, interactive performances, and four distinct stages representing the natural elements.

While the festival’s phase one and phase two announcements brought major names like ILLENIUM, deadmau5, and Rezz, the real magic often happens when you stumble upon an artist you’ve never heard of.

From the hidden Air stage nestled deep in the woods to the high-energy Fire stage, these rising artists are positioned to steal the show. Here are 10 emerging artists who deserve a spot on your must-see list this August.

Villager

Air Stage, Saturday

Villager is the project of Alex Young, a 27-year-old producer who has been touring with some of electronic music’s biggest names since age 15. Young shared stages with Skrillex, Diplo, and Cashmere Cat before stepping back to develop his more introspective Villager sound.

Specializing in “repurposing club rhythms into detailed, emotive music that rewards closer listening,” Young builds tracks around familiar four-on-the-floor patterns but layers them with richly textured ambient work inspired by Four Tet and Jon Hopkins.

His tracks feature extended sections where beats continue but melodic content shifts dramatically, creating patient development perfect for festival sets focused on musical journey over immediate impact.

Wakyin

Air Stage, Saturday

Wakyin brings a global perspective to electronic music that feels both authentic and innovative. Born Christian Rivera-Joaquin in Orlando, this rising artist seamlessly weaves his Dominican and Puerto Rican heritage into modern electronic structures.

With 3.5 million monthly Spotify listeners, Wakyin has collaborated with major names like Gordo and Grammy-nominated artist Bantu on the Afro house single “Closer.” His latest album “Caras” showcases an artist who honors Latin musical traditions while pushing electronic boundaries.

His live performances incorporate traditional percussion elements and cultural rhythms that transform electronic sets into cultural celebrations. This combination of cultural elements into dance music has earned Wakyin recognition across festival circuits this summer.

Paperwater

Air Stage, Sunday

Miami-based duo Paperwater, formed by Eddy Samy and Daygee Kwia in 2016, blends electronic production with hip-hop, psychedelic, and R&B influences while championing Black artists through their B.E.M. (Black Electronic Music) series.

Their “Club Paperwater” EP draws directly from Kwia’s trip to Liberia, where he discovered underground marketplace beats with makeshift CDJ setups under covered canopies. Meanwhile, Samy weaves distinctive Haitian sounds into tracks, creating what they describe as their imaginary club experience.

The duo’s sound reflects Miami’s cultural diversity, but with an edge honed by the city’s competitive nightlife scene. Their cultural authenticity combined with experimental production techniques makes them exactly the kind of boundary-pushing act Elements consistently champions on its more adventurous stages.

Crumb Pit

Water Stage, Friday

With just 25,800 monthly Spotify listeners, Crumb Pit exemplifies the underground talent Elements consistently champions. This artist creates intimate electronic compositions that prioritize emotional depth over pure festival energy.

The producer’s approach to sound design creates a sound that feels handmade in an era of increasingly automated production, offering textures and progressions that reward close listening.

Opening Friday’s Water stage, this set promises to establish the weekend’s more contemplative tone. For those willing to arrive early and explore deeper into the festival grounds, Crumb Pit represents exactly the kind of discovery that makes Elements special.

N2N

Air Stage, Sunday

Brooklyn-based producer N2N has built a reputation for sets that flow effortlessly from deeper, atmospheric sounds into peak-hour house energy. This versatility caught Billboard’s attention when they highlighted his Burning Man sunrise performance as one of 2018’s best sets.

His unique approach to house music has earned support from major names like Chris Lake, David Guetta, and Idris Elba. With releases on respected labels including Glasgow Underground, deadmau5’s hau5trap imprint, and Insomniac Records, he’s proven his studio skills match his live reputation.

His sets blend nostalgic house elements with fresh production techniques, creating experiences that satisfy both casual festival-goers and dedicated house heads.

Sequin Tiger

Air Stage, Sunday

Sequin Tiger brings a playful yet sophisticated approach to electronic music that feels both nostalgic and futuristic. This artist has developed a signature sound built around unexpected samples and creative genre crossovers.

The producer’s ability to surprise audiences with left-field musical choices never feels gimmicky. Instead, Sequin Tiger’s creative twists serve the songs while showcasing serious production chops.

Blending elements that shouldn’t work together but somehow do, this artist represents the kind of boundary-pushing creativity that makes festival discovery so rewarding. The name itself suggests an artist unafraid to be bold and memorable.

Ace On Earth

Water Stage, Friday

Providence-based Ace On Earth isn’t your typical festival DJ. This artist doubles as a meditation guide, which might sound unusual until you experience one of his sets. He’s all about creating safe spaces for connection and exploration.

As part of Rhode Island’s Soundz Organic Collective, Ace On Earth has created his unique sound by blending hip-hop influences with meditative sound healing and organic elements. His recent “777” EP dropped in October 2024 with tracks like “Nowadaze” that show off his range from chill, thoughtful vibes to serious bass weight.

What makes Ace On Earth special is the journey his sets take you on. They flow from deeper sounds to high-energy dubs, but there’s always intention behind every transition. If you’re looking to start Friday on a more mindful note, look no further than Friday’s set at the Water Stage.

The Sponges

Water Stage, Sunday

Denver duo The Sponges know exactly what they’re doing when it comes to getting people moving. Ryan Slepin and Nik Eaton have cracked the code on mixing ’70s funk samples with psychedelic sounds and heavy basslines, creating what they call disco-fried house music that’s impossible to resist.

Their production style pulls heavily from disco and funk legends like James Brown and Earth Wind & Fire, but they’re not just throwing in samples for nostalgia. They chop and flip the classic grooves into something new that works perfectly on the festival stage.

The Sponges understand how to build energy over time, using those familiar funk elements as anchors while taking the sound in unexpected directions. Their tracks often feature rich harmonic progressions that give the music serious depth beyond just being dancefloor-ready.

Drinkurwater

Water Stage, Saturday

Kevin Flum, better known as Drinkurwater, has a sound that sits right in that sweet spot between melodic dubstep and harder bass music. The tracks typically feature aggressive low-end combined with bouncy, almost playful melodic elements that keep things from getting too dark or overwhelming.

The rhythmic patterns in his music draw inspiration from both dubstep and hip-hop, creating tracks that feel familiar but offer enough variation to keep sets interesting.

His Saturday Water stage set should deliver a mix of heavier dubstep anthems and more melodic bass tracks. Expect plenty of bass drops that hit hard but maintain enough musicality to keep the energy flowing rather than just delivering isolated impact moments.

Saint Velez

Fire Stage, Saturday

Brooklyn-based Peter Velez has been quietly building a reputation in the techno underground, and his placement on the Fire stage tells you everything you need to know about what he brings to the table. This isn’t your typical festival techno. Saint Velez focuses on what he calls warehouse poetry, creating tracks that hit hard but still tell a story.

Rather than building to obvious climaxes, his tracks evolve through atmospheric synth work that introduces progressive elements during breakdowns, pulling listeners out of the driving rhythm before throwing them back into the intensity.

Expect relentless beats and the kind of energy that justifies the Fire stage’s reputation for high-intensity sets.

Elements Music & Arts Festival takes place Aug. 8-10, 2025, at Long Pond, Pa. These emerging artists perform across the festival’s Fire, Earth, Air, and Water stages, creating opportunities for discovery at every turn.

Tickets and more information available at elementsfest.us.